The girl with short, shoulder-length apricot hair emerged from the water, affectionately patted the Seel beside her, and neatly braided her wet hair.
As the communicator blinked to life, Misty wrapped herself in a towel, wiping away the droplets on her face before clicking on the video call.
On the video call, a rugged man with a squinted face nodded and greeted, "Long time no see, Misty."
Misty responded with a faint smile, "Is this about the Attribute Expert Cup? I just happened to secure a position as a Water Type judge."
Brock shook his head, his expression serious. "It's another matter, concerning a Squirtle from a Breed Master."
"Squirtle," Misty exclaimed in surprise. "A new Pokédex holder?"
The sturdy, black-faced man folded his arms, pondered for a moment, and then nodded. "It's a possibility."
"In any case, I recommended you to Teacher Luke..."
Misty blinked, her curiosity piqued. "Teacher Luke?"
"Do you know him?" he asked.
"I mentioned him to Sister Lorelei before," Misty replied with a smile. "The video of his Perish Song tactics was quite inspiring to me."
Brock nodded approvingly. "That's great. We'll have plenty of discussions in the group."
"What group?" Misty asked, slightly puzzled.
As she looked down at her phone, her face suddenly turned red. In an effort to avoid misunderstandings, she had even deleted Red's contact information. She hadn't expected to encounter this situation.
With a flushed face, Misty carefully chose her words. "What about him... and Yellow?"
"Everything's fine," Brock assured her with a nod. "Everyone in the group admires Teacher Luke."
Misty was initially taken aback and felt a bit disheartened, but she quickly shook her head. There was no need to overthink it; she would just engage in casual conversation.
"I'll compile Water Type techniques as thoroughly as possible and share them with Teacher Luke," Misty said after giving it some thought, her smile returning. "Please convey my gratitude to him."
...
[Member 'Cerulean's Mermaid' has joined the chat group]
Red's secret admirer, Yellow, whose relationship with him was still undefined.
And now, Misty, the newcomer to the group who had been overlooked by the straightforward Brock...
Luke couldn't help but sense a hint of chaos in the group.
Unfortunately, Lord Red was still tirelessly training on Mt. Silver, completely unaware that he was being indirectly criticized.
"Are you another member of the harem of 'The Fighter'?" Luke mused aloud.
Luke glanced at the sky and offered a silent prayer for Lord Red for three seconds in his heart. Perhaps 'The Fighter' had survived countless battles in the unforgiving world, earning him that title.
Though he couldn't afford Green's instructional materials, Misty, the new member, had a gift for Teacher Luke.
"'Water Pulse' Move Secrets?" Luke raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Misty smiled gently. "This move is particularly suited for Squirtle and incorporates some of my personal experiences. If you can use a Water Stone or Mystic Water during training, the results will be even better."
Luke's expression shifted slightly. "And how much would acquiring this set cost?"
Misty considered it for a moment before responding, "Not much... Around two or three million should cover it."
Luke let out a short breath. "I won't need it for now..."
"That's alright; you can keep it," Misty replied with a smile. "Maybe Pokémon can benefit from it as well."
Luke was taken aback. "Hey, isn't that a bit ironic... It sounds like a famous joke in Kanto."
Misty seemed to be taken aback by her own joke and chuckled awkwardly.
Luke gave her an odd look. Lately, he couldn't shake the feeling that the distance between him and five million Pokédollars was growing farther and farther away.
...
After receiving the Move Secrets of Water Pulse from Misty, Luke decided to use it for Squirtle's training regimen. While Squirtle could potentially learn it on its own, Misty's expertise in Water Type moves would provide valuable insights.
He also obtained some additional breeding techniques for Water Type Pokémon that Haunter might not be proficient in.
As the evening approached, Luke called Cynthia, who rarely had free time, and the two chatted about recent events and anecdotes.
When Luke took custody of Squirtle, Cynthia wore a smile and remarked, "I've heard that a Pokémon's personality tends to become more like its trainer's."
Luke cast a sidelong glance at the crafty Squirtle and shook his head. "I'm not that gullible."
Despite appearing a bit foolish, Squirtle was actually carefully assessing its surroundings and committing various escape routes to memory.
"uirt~ ヾ(⌐■_■)"
Before forming a comprehensive training plan, it needed to thoroughly investigate its surroundings. This cautious approach had always been Squirtle's behavioral policy. Furthermore, Eevee's remarkable strength had a significant impact on Squirtle. The fact that such a small Eevee possessed such incredible power was truly astounding. It was difficult to imagine the strength of the opponents they might encounter in the future.
Squirtle adjusted its sunglasses. Hence, its primary objective at the moment was to enhance its own strength and keep it concealed. Only then could it stand a better chance of winning battles. Squirtle narrowed its eyes, a glint of determination shining through.
"A true gentleman hides his weapon until the opportune moment!"
As the night grew dark, Luke spent some time playing games with Cynthia. What seemed like a short while had actually extended into the late hours of the night. After sipping some Moomoo Milk, Luke, who was never one to succumb to fatigue the next day, drifted off to sleep, cradling his pillow.
The room was enveloped in pitch darkness and silence. Squirtle cautiously poked its head out of its shell, ready to embark on its covert training mission. However, it suddenly froze as two stealthy figures materialized before its eyes.
"uirt~?!" Squirtle exclaimed, feeling startled. Had its secret training plan been uncovered by them?
Eevee and Haunter were equally taken aback. Haunter remained still for a prolonged moment before extending a paw towards Squirtle.
"jie jie~?" (Join us?)
Squirtle was at a loss. Was it possible that it wasn't the only one with the idea of undergoing additional training? Or had these two already been at it for a while?
"uirt~! (Ｔ▽Ｔ)"
When those stronger than you are working harder than you, there's no time to waste!
Eevee knocked gently on Squirtle's hard shell twice, its eyes gleaming with enthusiasm and a friendly smile on its face.
"vui~ ~!"
Squirtle: ◐▽◑
...
Luke was pleasantly surprised to find that he wasn't awakened by Eevee that morning. As he stretched and rose from his bed, he couldn't help but notice Eevee, still sound asleep.
The sleeping Eevee looked adorable and well-behaved. Luke couldn't resist poking it with his finger, prompting Eevee to swat his hand away, even in its slumber.
Luke couldn't help but smile. However, the next moment, as he glanced at Squirtle, he was taken aback. "What the heck?"
"Squ, uirt~ ..."
Squirtle, with a bloody nose and swollen face, timidly emerged from its shell and waved a paw at Luke.
Luke couldn't contain his bewilderment and thought of the traditional notion of big-night training for Pokémon. He muttered, "It seems that Eevee is quite fond of you. This is how it says 'hello'..."
Squirtle:?
"But this is too embarrassing!" Luke was somewhat exasperated.
"uirt~!" Squirtle wailed, nodding with embarrassment.
"Knock it off!" Luke scolded, irritated. "After a few more fights, maybe you'll learn to be tough!"
"uirt~?! Σ(°△°|||)︴"
While I may not be human, you certainly are not!